Adolf Frederick of Sweden
A Swedish monarch whose reign was defined by political powerlessness, famously remembered for the meal that allegedly ended his life.
1710–1771 (age 61)·King of Sweden from 1751 to 1771·Birthday: May 14
Biography
Adolf Frederick's kingship was an exercise in frustration. Placed on the throne by a Russian empress to ensure Swedish compliance, he was a constitutional monarch in the 'Age of Liberty', a period where real power resided with the Riksdag, or parliament. His wife, the ambitious Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, constantly schemed to restore royal authority, leading to a failed coup that only weakened their position further. The king, a gentle man with a love for woodworking and a large family, became a symbolic figurehead. His death, following a famously immense meal, turned him into a national punchline, but it also underscored the profound limitations of his office during an era when Swedish democracy was finding its turbulent feet.
#1 When Adolf Was Born
The biggest hits of 1710
Adolf's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1710Born
1715Started school
1723Became a teenager
1726Could drive
1728Could vote
1731Turned 21
1740Turned 30
1750Turned 40
1760Turned 50
1770Turned 60
1771Died at 61
Key Achievements
- Served as King of Sweden from 1751 to 1771 during the parliamentary-dominated 'Age of Liberty'.
- Was the father of Gustav III, who would later stage a coup to restore absolute monarchy in Sweden.
- Presided, albeit with little power, over a period of significant cultural and scientific advancement in Sweden.
- His ascension was part of the Treaty of Åbo, which helped end the Russo-Swedish War of 1741–1743.
Did You Know?
He is often humorously called 'the king who ate himself to death', having died after a meal of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring, champagne, and 14 servings of his favorite dessert, semla.
He was an uncle of Catherine the Great of Russia through his sister.
He had a personal interest in turning snuffboxes on a lathe, a hobby he actively pursued.
His reign saw the foundation of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities.
“I am the king who eats buns.”
